Neighbors: Students share ideas to spruce up downtown

The Recorder received letters from a couple of our younger neighbors this week, and I’d like to share a little from each of them with you.

Dylan McCullough Clemente of Greenfield, who attends Pearl Rhodes Elementary School in Leyden, wrote that he believes there should be more trees on the Greenfield Town Common. He says it would make the town “more beautiful and healthy.”

Dylan, who is in third grade, went on to say that trees would attract more attention to the common, especially in the fall, would supply fresh air for people to breathe, and would allow more birds to nest in the downtown area — he says that would be nice to see.

Dylan’s solution? He says the town should recruit volunteers to help plant and water saplings. He suggests that local nurseries might want to help by donating some “baby trees.”

“I would volunteer to plant the trees, too,” he says.

Cooper Bullock, also of Greenfield and also a student at Pearl Rhodes Elementary School in Leyden, wrote a letter asking that a flower garden be planted near the Greenfield Farmers Market on Court Square.

Cooper says a garden would attract visitors just as the Bridge of Flowers does in Shelburne Falls. He says he believes residents would really enjoy a flower garden.

“I have heard that scientists say that when towns open parks or flower gardens, stress levels go down,” says Cooper. “Also, people would want to be in the flower garden and they could also have picnics.”

Cooper and Dylan believe local children would be more than willing to help with such projects. He says fundraisers could be held to raise money for a flower garden.

Thank you for your suggestions Dylan and Cooper.

THE FOLKS AT TRINITARIAN CHURCH IN NORTHFIELD are holding an ice cream social on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the church’s lower parking lot. West County Jazz Band will perform, and ice cream from Maple Valley Farm in Hadley and Snow’s of Greenfield will be served. Contributions are requested. In case of rain, the concert will be held inside the church.

THE SECOND “FIRST FRIDAY” IN GREENFIELD is right around the corner. It will be held on June 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. During that time, more than 25 downtown businesses and restaurants will offer specials, sales, raffles, giveaways and more.

This month’s theme is the bee — Greenfield Business Association and its members are partnering with the 4th annual BEE FEST to celebration all things bees.

Head downtown that evening and experience the community ongoing event.

If you’d like more information, contact: gba@franklincc.org.

THE BUCKLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY will hold its annual program and pie social on June 6 at 7 p.m. in the Mary Lyon Church on Upper Street in Buckland Center.

American Harmony, an chorus of musical re-enactors, will present songs that once stirred the souls of early America and a pie social will follow.

Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for students ages 12 and under.

PIONEER VALLEY INSTITUTE is offering a day tour of the highlights of Greenfield on June 7.

“Spring into Greenfield: A Trolley Ride Through our Town’s History and Architecture,” will offer a look at Greenfield’s buildings, industries, farmland and more. There will also be a short walking tour through Greenfield’s center.

SHELBURNE FALLS WOMEN’S CLUB will hold a tag sale June 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Village Information Center in Shelburne Falls. The annual sale will coincide with RiverFest. If you’d like to donate clean and working items, bring them to the information booth on June 4, 5 or 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Scholarship Fund.

For more information, contact Marion Taylor at 413-625-6306.

PIONEER VALLEY BALLET will hold its second annual golf tournament on June 8 at 1 p.m. at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield.

Registration will begin at noon, and a shotgun start will begin at 1 p.m. The cost is $100 per person (dinner included) for a four-person team scramble.

If you would like to attend the dinner only, the cost is $30.

Proceeds will benefit PVB’s Boys Scholarship Fund, as well as PVB’s educational programs.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY RADIO CONTROL MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB will hold its annual open house and family day on June 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the club flying field on Honey Pot Road in Hadley. The field is across from the Coolidge Bridge off Route 9.

A food concession will be available, or you can bring a picnic lunch.

Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call Mark Munde, club president, at 413-569-0202.

JUST ROOTS FARM IN GREENFIELD will hold its Spring Farm Festival on June 8 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the farm at 34 Glenbrook Drive. If you haven’t been out to the farm yet, you shouldn’t miss this opportunity. The festival is designed to kick off the growing season and celebrate community by having a working party to remove rocks and weeds from the field, a tour of the property, an herbal medicine talk and dinner, performances and a bonfire.

If you’d like more information, call 413-325-8969.

SWIFT RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY will host a bus trip with Marty Howe to Prescott, one of the four “lost” towns of the Quabbin Reservoir, on June 8.

Reservations must be made in advance. The cost is $15 and should be sent to Marty Howe, 98 Lower Beverly Hills, West Springfield, MA 01089.

Participants will meet across from the historical society at 40 Elm St. in New Salem at 10:45 a.m. and will promptly depart at 11.

Bring lunch, bug repellent, sunscreen, a camera and binoculars.

For more information, call 978-544-6882 or email: srvhsmuseum@gmail.com.

To contact Anita Fritz, a staff reporter at The Recorder, send an email to: franklincountyneighbors@gmail.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 280. You can also reach Anita on Facebook at Anita’s Neighbors. Information to be included in Neighbors may also be sent to: neighbors@recorder.com up to noon two days before you want it to run.